Picture this: You are trying to do some research for a case. You have been putting it off all day because you have been fielding calls from leads who don’t quite fit your client profile, law clerks communicating information that could have been sent via an email, and current clients asking for free legal advice. You finally sit down, you get in the groove, and *ring*, it’s your phone again…
Unfortunately, this is an all too familiar picture for small law firms and solo practitioners. It is often this repetitive recollection of events that hinders efficiency and productivity and ultimately renders them uncompetitive. Law firms that have managed to break this pattern are reliant on a collection of software and services that propel them forward, and a legal answering service holds a perennial spot in that portfolio.
You might be thinking that you do not need a virtual receptionist service for your law firm. Let’s look at how to know if your law firm needs a virtual receptionist:
This is pretty straight forward. You are missing out on calls. These calls might be potential clients, which means a loss on revenue. These calls might be a current client, which might get upset or annoyed because they have reached your voicemail too many times. These calls might be a Judge, who will certainly not be pleased to not reach you. A missed call for a law firm is a missed opportunity or a nick at your customer service value promise. A trustworthy legal answering service can help field these calls and follow different protocols, approved by you, to deal with the different types of calls coming in.
Remember the example at the beginning of this article, about the attorney that could not sit down to do research because of the calls? Not much needs to be said about how sporadic calls can chip away at your day rendering you inefficient. Time is the most valuable asset in an era of apps, social media, and automation. Successful lawyers find a way to improve their efficiency and maximize their work time billable hours. Hiring a virtual receptionist enables you to focus on what you do best while your legal virtual receptionists focus on providing outstanding customer service to your new and potential clients calling in.
Perhaps you have a handle on your time. You might not feel identified with anything that was mentioned before. Is it because you are paying for a an actual receptionist? A full time in house receptionist can cost you between $30K and $40K per year when all is said and done. A legal answering service is working 24/7 and can cost you a tenth of that. By using an virtual receptionist service versus an in house receptionist, you are ensuring you only pay for calls answered, not for down time, break time, and lunch time. A virtual receptionist service for lawyers can also work 24/7, which means you are not missing out on opportunities from late night calls or weekend calls.
For any law firm, an attorney virtual receptionist is important as it helps improve your time management and reduce costs. Taking the help of a legal virtual receptionist service can improve customer experience better than the previous one, reducing your overhead, and capitalizing on existing client opportunities followed by an increase in profits of the business.
If you too are looking for a legal receptionist for your law firm then, consider Easybee’s virtual answering services. Easybee’s virtual receptionist focuses on providing services to the legal industry and will manage all the important calls and offer clients with best-quality service they need. Want to know more about how to develop your brand with Easybee?